Dungeon of Niflheim

456 Chapter 456: Daft old sod!

“Haaaaa you’re practically skin and bones Leo dear, are you remembering to eat?” Cassandra asked her son with no small amount of concern. She got up off her seat and walked up to Leo, grabbing his face with her hands and feeling his cheeks.

“So skinny.” She complained with a frown.

‘What the hell is she talking about where on Nova is he skinny.’ Frost who was beside Leo questioned in bafflement. He and Leo just finished a B-rank steak and if anything Leo had packed on the pounds since the last time they met -all muscle of course. One thing was for sure Leo definitely wasn’t forgetting to eat, but mothers always seems to think their children needed more food in their bellies, a form of love.

“Haaaaaa I’m fine mom, Frost and I actually just finished eating one of chef Burusaa’s best dishes.” Leo sighed before gently removing his mother’s hands from his face, smiling as he did, feeling the love his mother had for him.

He then turned to Luna who behind her exhausted expression looked at him with just as much care, she too had missed him.

Cassandra finally noticing Frost by her son’s side smiled from ear to ear before sweeping him up in a strong hug, catching Frost by surprise.

“It’s been too long Frost, it’s good to see that handsome face of yours. Have you been eating well? How’s Maya and the kids?” She treated Frost similar to that of Leo, causing his heart to warm.

After some hugs and small chit chat Leo put on a serious expression and began revealing his reason for coming.

“Mom there’s something you should know about before you hear any rumours among the populace.” His sudden change in demeanour caused Cassandra’s heart to lurch and her fists to clench. She frowned with worry before gesturing for Leo to lay it on her.

.....

“A couple hours ago father was injured in battle and his condition was quite serious.” Cassandra’s heart stopped and her eyes shook, thankfully she was sitting down otherwise she may have collapsed as her legs turned to jelly. Luna reached to her side, wrapping her hands around Cassandra’s so as to comfort her though she was also quite shocked by the news.

Douglas was a B-rank fighter and usually highly guarded given his title of Viscount. Hamon couldn’t afford anything happening to the heart and soul of the territory.

“He was ambushed by the three rindars and put in critical condition but thankfully Frost and Kiba arrived just in time to stop the worst from happening.” Leo put his hand on Frost’s shoulder directing their focus to him.

“Frost and Kiba forced back the eldest rindar long enough for Hamon to arrive and Kiba to get father to safety. His situation was still critical, and many saw his wounded body, but I summoned Gilianna the moment Kiba arrived with him in the command centre. She used all her ability to stave him from succumbing to his wounds.” Cassandra let out a grieffilled gasp at his words.

“It’s ok mother, father’s alright, there’s no chance of him dying and as long as Gilianna continues to work her magic she assumes father will be back on his feet within 24 hours. It was a dangerous situation but thanks to Frost, father will continue to be pain in your neck for the foreseeable future.” Leo grasped his mother’s arms that were trembling, holding her with a strong grip hoping to reassure her.

Cassandra was a sharp woman she understood from Leo’s words that this situation could have been far worse. If Frost didn’t arrive when he did Douglas would have been brutally killed in a painful and intimidating fashion. The very thought and realisation of how close she came to losing her husband sent a terrifying shiver down her back. Only thanks to Leo’s strong grip and Luna’s comforting rubbing did she manage to hold back her emotions.

Her gaze drifted towards Frost who nodded his head in response, agreeing with Leo’s words. This gave her some comfort.

“I....I...Is he awake right now?” She asked nervously, her lips quivering.

“Yes mother he’s awake and complaining about the pain and itchiness but he’s bound to the medical bed until Gilianna finishes repairing his limbs.” Leo smiled and sighed with relief upon hearing his mother’s question.

“.....Good, good.” Cassandra repeated the word ‘good’ as her trembling started to ease and a gentle smile adorned her lips.

“Thank you Frost, once again you have saved my husband. I don’t know how we’ll ever be able to repay such favour.” Cassandra’s demeanour roughly changed to that of the lady Viscountess, bowing her head to Frost in thanks.

“No need for that Cassandra, I’m sure Douglas would have done the same in my shoes, there’s no need for favour among friends.” Frost smiled warmly accepting Cassandra thanks but rejecting the need for repayment.

“Haaaaaa shame I’m taken otherwise I would have offered myself as payment.” Cassandra sighed and spoke in a joking tone that caused Frost, Leo and Luna’s lips to twitch.

‘Guess she really is fine if she can joke like that.’

“Alright if the old bastard is awake I’d best go and see him so I can give him an earful. Luna, Calder can you handle to workload while I’m gone, shouldn’t be more than an hour.” Wiping her eyes from the build up of tears she regained her earlier demeanour and asked Luna and Calder to handle the paperwork while she left to lecture her husband about taking care of his life that has now been saved twice by the same person.

“Urgh....we’ll give it our best.” Luna grunted before replying with lacking confidence. The workload was already heavy enough with Cassandra spearheading the operation, without her even for ten minutes was a tall ask let alone an hour.

“Go, go we’ll be fine.” Calder who had remained in the room ushered Cassandra out knowing that she’d be useless if she remained here without personally checking in on Douglas.

“Great, Leo, Frost let’s go see that damnable husband of mine before he saunters off and puts himself in more danger.” Cassandra promptly rose from her chair and moved towards the exit, her gung-ho attitude hiding her clenched fists.

The three people thus made their way to the command centre. Cassandra walked with strong purpose, her worry transforming into anger on the way making those in her path swiftly move out the way.

“Where is he!?” Eventually they arrived at the command centre with Leo sporting a somewhat guilty expression as Cassandra roared out.

A muffled groan was let out in response from the medical bed at the back of the command centre along with some stifled laughter from other areas. Of course it was Douglas who groaned.

Cassandra’s sharp ears heard her husband’s groan and her eyes narrowed in on his location, filled with fire, she was ready to tear his head off for placing himself in such danger at his age and with his role in this war.

However the moment she noticed him laying up against the bed, blood covering the sheets and clear signs of mangled flesh on his legs all her angry dissipated, replaced with pain and upset.

Her eyes reddened as she took quick steps towards her man.

Boof!

She crashed into him somewhat lightly, her head against his chest and her arms wound tightly around him as though to prevent him from running off.

“Atititititti Cass it hurts, it hurts.” Douglas felt a wave of pain through his body, more than he could silently endure.

Gilianna who was by his side shook her head and sighed before gently loosening Cassandra’s grip or rather showing her where she could hold with the least amount of pain.

“Idiot! Dumbass! Senile old codger!” A torrent of insults swiftly followed from Cassandra’s mouth as her anger returned and she glared up at Douglas from his chest causing the viscount to visibly tremble and his heart lurch.

His wife was crying despite her anger and loud voice, tears flowed down her fair cheeks and the hands that held onto him were shaking as though full of fear.

“Haaaaaaa” Douglas let out a deep sigh before hugging his wife, pulling her in close to his chest and caressing the back of her head.

“I’m alright Cass, Gilianna and Frost made sure of that. I plan to see you go grey haired and wrinkled so dry your eyes dear please.” Douglas always struggled to deal with his wife when she cried. She was normally so headstrong and collected.

“Pffftt if you want that then stop running straight in the thick of danger you daft old sod!” Cassandra twisted one of Douglas’ nipples in protest causing the man to squeal in sharp pain but he continued to hold his wife close allowing her to let out her emotions.

Eventually the insults, curses and sneak attacks stopped, and Cassandra simply leaned against Douglas’s chest, her ear pressed against his heart listening to it beat.

Frost, Leo and the others who were in the command centre wisely left shortly after the insults began, taking their work outside and leaving the Viscount and Viscountess to sort out their issues.